The Embassy of Uganda in Turkey officially launched the Honorary Consulate in Turkey's largest and most populous city of Istanbul.

The ceremony -- which took place on February 15 -- was presided over by Stephen Mubiru, Uganda's Ambassador to Turkey and the Turkish Ambassador to Uganda Karem Alp.

It was attended by hundreds of Turkish businessmen, representatives from the government of Turkey, international sports personalities, Chamber of Commerce of Istanbul, and the mayor of Maltepe Municipality of Istanbul among others. 

Istanbul is one of the leading cities in the world and very strategic to international commerce as it is the meeting point of the European and Asian Continent.

The Honorary Consulate will be headed by Honorary Consul Levent Davisoglu, a renowned businessman both in Uganda and Turkey.

Levent owns a chain of Lubricant factories in Turkey, the Netherlands and Uganda. The factory in Uganda is located in Namanve industrial park under the business name Potenza Lubricants. 

During the launch, the embassy carried out promotion of Uganda coffee, Ugandan pineapple and other products in line with economic and commercial diplomacy mandate.

"Guests were served freshly roasted Uganda coffee specially imported from Uganda for the launching event. Guests were also served to fresh Ugandan pineapple that was airlifted from Uganda to Turkey for promotion purposes," according to an official statement.

"Ambassador Mubiru and senior diplomats at the Uganda Embassy in Turkey including Julius Mwijusya and Joseph Barigye made a great impression about Uganda and wowed Turkish investors, tourists as well as the general Turkish public to consider Uganda as a top destination for business and pleasure." 

Istanbul is home to over 3,000 Ugandans who live and work in the city and its surroundings and, according to the statement, the opening of the Consulate will further promote Uganda to Turkey and consolidate the warm and friendly bilateral relations that exist between Uganda and Turkey.